Rosa hybrida shrub Named &#39;AUSboxer&#39;

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSboxer’. The ‘AUSboxer’ rose is a plant suitable for repeat cut-flower production having rich creamy-white buds with a pink blush and a Myrrh fragrance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims priority to a European Community PlantVariety Application No. 2010/2727, filed Dec. 6, 2010, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

CLASSIFICATION

The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida shrub.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘AUSboxer’.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plantnamed ‘AUSboxer’, which was originated by crossing two unnamed,unpatented varieties of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a rose with blushpink buds, which gradually open to reveal large, many-petalled blooms,which are predominately creamy-white, but delicately brushed with pink,with a Myrrh fragrance, and having a long vase life as a cut rose,produced on strong upright stems, which are suitable for year roundcut-flower production under standard greenhouse conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherspresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventoris the following combination of characteristics: predominatelycreamy-white buds that are brushed with pink, and a Myrrh fragrance.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed ingreenhouses at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that theforegoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form andare established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.‘AUSboxer’ may be asexually propagated by budding. The buddingsuccessfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa cv. ‘Inermis.’

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the followingcombination of characteristics: whereas the seed parent is a deep yellowrose with no fragrance, ‘AUSboxer’ bears a creamy-white bloom with ablush of pink and has a myrrh fragrance.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas the pollen parent isof a deeper pink with a larger bloom and a powerful fragrance,‘AUSboxer’ has a creamy-white bloom with only a blush of pink and has amoderate myrrh fragrance.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the new variety is the‘AUSneil’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,317). The new rose may bedistinguished from the ‘AUSneil’ variety by the following combination ofcharacteristics: the ‘AUSneil’ produces white blooms, but with no pinkand fewer petals, compared to ‘AUSboxer’ which produces creamy-whiteblooms having a pink blush. In addition, another close cultivar is‘AUSlevel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,765). The new rose may bedistinguished from the ‘AUSlevel’ variety by the following combinationof characteristics: the ‘AUSlevel’ produces blooms of a similar colourto the ‘AUSboxer’ shade of creamy-white, but with no pink shading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 1 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown indoors in a greenhouse in Albrighton, Britain in themonth of July. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental,cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditionsof light and soil.

-   Flower characteristics:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant            during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many            to count.        -   Bud.—Size: About 2.2 cm long and 1.6 cm in diameter when the            petals start to unfurl. Form: The bud form is pointed ovoid.            Color: When sepals first divide, the bud color is red RHS            37B with yellow-green RHS 145C. When half blown, the upper            sides of the petals are red-purple RHS 65D, and the lower            sides of the petals are orange RHS 27D. Calyx: Shape: the            calyx opens up into a star-shape, which folds right back            against the receptacle and penduncle as the flower opens and            ages. Length: 3 cm. Diameter: 3 cm. Sepals: Arrangement:            Regular. Color: Upper Surface: yellow-green RHS 147C. Lower            Surface: yellow-green RHS 141C. Length: 3 cm. Width: 9 mm.            Shape: Acuminate. Margin: N/A. Surface texture: Upper            Surface: Downy. Lower Surface: Smooth. Number: There are            three normally appendaged sepals. There are 2 unappendaged            sepals with glandular edges. Receptacles: Color:            yellow-green RHS 144B. Shape: funnel. Size: medium, about            0.8 cm×1 cm. Surface: Smooth. Peduncle: Length: medium,            averaging about 5 cm. Surface: smooth. Color: yellow-green            RHS 144B. Strength: Strong.        -   Blooms.—Size: Large, average open diameter is about 9 cm.            Borne: Singly, because variety is grown as a cut flower, and            so buds and side shoots are nipped out. Stems: Strength:            Strong, average length is about 45 cm. Diameter: 5 mm. Form:            When first open, bloom is cupped. Permanence of bloom:            flattens.        -   Petalage.—Number of petals under normal conditions: 110.            Color: The upper sides of the petals are white RHS N155D            with red-purple RHS 65B. The reverse sides of the petals are            white RHS N155D with red-purple RHS 64D. The base of the            petals has no yellow spot and the white shade RHS N155D.            Variegations: Shading of RHS 64B and 64D at the tips of some            petals. Discoloration: N/A. Fragrance: Moderate. Character            of fragrance: Myrrh.        -   Petals.—Texture: Smooth. Size: Width: 3.7 mm. Length:            3.8 mm. Surface: Smooth. Shape: Round (mostly) with some            outer petals deltoid. Margin: Irregular. Apex Shape:            Rounded. Base Shape: Rounded. Form: Incurved. Arrangement:            Regular. Petaloids: Number: 4. Color: white RHS N155D.            Length: 7 mm. Width: 4 mm. Shape: Obovate. Margin:            Irregular. Persistence: Petals drop off cleanly before            drying. Lastingness: On the plant: not tested. As a cut            flower: long, about 11 days.        -   Reproductive parts.—Stamens: Number: 25. Length: 9 mm.            Anthers: Length: 2.5 mm. Color: yellow RHS 13A. Arrangement:            Regular around styles mixed with few petaloids. Filaments:            Color: yellow RHS 12C. Length: 5 mm. Pollen: Color:            greyed-orange RHS N167A. Pistils: Number: 35. Length: 15 mm.            Styles: Color: greenish-white with pink, ie greyed-green RHS            193D with red-purple RHS 65B. Length: 9 mm. Stigmas: Color:            greyed-green RHS 193D. Length: 11 mm. Hips: None Observed.-   Plant characteristics:    -   -   Plant form.—Shrub.        -   Plant growth.—Upright.        -   Age to maturity.—One year.        -   Mature plant.—Height: 110 cm. Width: 85 cm.        -   Rootstock.—Rosa ‘Inermis’ for observed plants.        -   Foliage.—Number: Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is: 5            (including terminal leaflet). Size: Medium, about 14 cm            long×9 cm wide. Quantity: Normal. Number of leaves per            flowering stem is: 10. Color: New foliage: Upper side: green            RHS 137C with red-purple RHS 59B. Lower side: red-purple RHS            59B. Old foliage: Upper side: green RHS 139A. Lower side:            green RHS 138B.        -   Leaflets.—Size: About 5 cm long×4 cm wide. Shape: Broadly            oval. Base Shape: Rounded. Apex Shape: Cuspidate. Texture:            Smooth. Edge: Serrated. Serrations: Single. Petiole: Color:            green RHS 137A. Length: 3 cm. Width: 1.5 mm. Surface            Texture: Smooth. Petiole Rachis: Color: green RHS 137A.            Underside: with prickles. Stipules: Length: 1.4 cm,            serrated. Color: green RHS 137D. Auricle: Shape: Sword            shaped. Length: 3 mm. Width: 1.5 mm at widest point,            narrowing to a point. Color: green RHS 137D. Vein Color:            Same as leaf color. Venation Pattern: Reticulate.        -   Wood.—New Wood: Color: green RHS 137D. Bark: Smooth. Old            Wood: Color: green RHS 137C. Bark: Smooth.        -   Branching habit.—Number: Few. Main stems cut to allow a            flowering stem to shoot — no branching on these. Observation            did not ascertain a natural branching habit. Lateral Branch            Dimensions: N/A.        -   Stems.—Mature Stem: Length: 100 cm. Diameter: 6 mm.            Internode Distance: 6 cm. The above measurements are all            variable, depending on growing conditions in a season. Stem            Pubescence Present: No.        -   Prickles.—Quantity: On main canes from base: Ordinary.            Number per stem length: 20 per 10 cm. On laterals from main            canes: few. Number per stem length: 2 per 10 cm. Form:            Hooked downward. Length: 10 mm. Color when young: greyed-red            RHS 182C. Color when mature: greyed-red RHS 182C.        -   Small prickles.—Quantity: None.        -   Disease resistance.—Mildew: Resistant. Blackspot: Resistant.            Rust: Resistant.        -   Pest resistance.—Not tested.        -   Winter hardiness.—Not tested.        -   Growing conditions.—Normal (green house conditions).

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the shrub class suitablefor repeat cut-flower production, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.